1960s Promotional Novelty Jeweled Glasses Turtle Sun Butterfly Unsigned Culver Barware

Beautiful, RARE & unique unsigned bejeweled Culver? novelty glass.

Anyone have a clue?

I have little to go on with these glasses. I'm quite versed in Culver Glass and believe this to very likely be their product, from the 1960s. My guess is based upon the unusual "bluing" on the back of the Gold leaf, which I have only seen on Culver glasses circa 1962 to 1968, the flat matte & shiny style of Culvers earlier Mardi Gras glasses & of course, the glass jewels, found on Culvers Christmas Tree, Peacock and Mardi Gras barware (I have seen a couple of other examples with jewels from Culver, but were unable to obtain them.)

These 5.6 inch tall 2.6 inch wide glasses, are made up of a Gold leaf, chain like band around the lip, with whimsical streamers falling diagonally to various items such as a Butterfly, Turtle, Sun, Dancing Female Figure, what appears to be a Doughnut, Moon, Heart. The symbols and patterns, remind me of a Rebus or Pictogram, but if that is the case... I'm not solving it.

Regardless, they are EXTREMELY rare, unique, beautiful and super fun!

The history of Culver Glassware is shrouded in mystery. The secret process of heat firing 22k Gold to glass, died along with the last known member of the family, that had been involved with the business, on that fateful date now known as 9/11.

Culver was founded in Brooklyn, NY in the late 30s by Irving Rothenberg. In the 1980s glass production was ceased & the company was moved to New Jersey, where pre made blanks were utilized for their patterns.

For the most part, Culver did not begin producing gold embellished glass until the late 50's and much of their pieces made prior to this time, are unsigned, unlabeled and often difficult to identify.

In the early 60s, Culver perfected the (still secret process) of high heat firing, 22k Gold onto their fine glassware, allowing for thick, textured, gold & rhinestone displays, that better handled the test of time. Wealth was abundant in the US, and opulence was equally embraced, with the sleek, Mid Century Modern / Futurist Atomic Age styles, more commonly associated with the time, and business soared.

With the release of the Valencia pattern, popularity exploded & soon Culver was considered THE wedding gift of the "Up and coming", becoming available in the finest department stores. The process of high heat firing 22k Gold onto the glass for permanence, was kept close to the vest by the family & employees.

The facts about identifying Culver glass by mark, in order to indicate date of manufacture, are highly & widely inaccurate. Glass signed in scrolling script was utilized from the 30s to late 70s. In the 80s, block lettering was common, but a more accurate indicator is the addition of INC to the mark (be it block or script) lettering, which is found only on 80s to 90s pieces. Paper labels came into play in the late 80s.

I collect & sell vintage and antique barware and like to share certain special pieces when I have the opportunity.